Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

I wrote a poem and submitted it to a contest on the internet they then sent me a letter saying my poem was selected and I was a semi finalist and I could win $1.000.00 and my poem would be published in a book that I would get free. I have not recieved a book or another letter regarding the $1.000.00. Although I did recieve another letter saying the executive committee has chosen my poem and want me to come to a convention for a presentation. They said I would be honored as a famous poet for 2004.I have to pay for the convention which is $800.00 and the hotel for me to stay in which is $300.00 and the air fare which is $600.00.

It seems to me this is a scam. I have been getting donations from businesses to help me get there but if it is a scam then I have raised some money for nothing and can not return it to the businesses. What can I do??

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

AUTHOR: Sarah - (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, July 28, 2004

POSTED: Wednesday, July 28, 2004

i am eleven years old and have entered this contest. if i am not mistaken my airefair is only $248 it is $595 plus to take my mom it is $200. If somebody knows this is a scam please tell me i do not want to waste all the money i have saved up.

AUTHOR: Mark - (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Tuesday, July 27, 2004

POSTED: Tuesday, July 27, 2004

The errors need to be corrected on this complaint.
The entered poem does have a chance to win $1000.00 that is true, however we do NOT state that a book is sent for free. In fact, we list the price of the book quite clearly.

The convention is $495, not $800, don't know where that number comes from. The hotel is $94, lowered from a regular price of $215. Airfare may be correct, but I bet it could be lower.

Our convention is not a scam. We offer quite a lot for the price we charge. All that we are offering costs money to make happen, thus we must charge a price to take part in that offering. If it looks interesting then people can go, if not then they need not attend. Choice is to the poet, we simply offer it.

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.